Amazing antique Chinese Lapis Lazuli carving of three rams, Yang, and nine ruyi, Lingzhi, on a rocky landscape. The blue lapis is a beautiful ultramarine color with gold dust like iron pyrite interspersed with random calcite flecks in the matrix. People believe the stone is imbued and bring good fortune to those able to hold it well and helps to promote psychic abilities. Meaning of ram and ruyi combines to mean “as you wish” and “good fortune”. The vibrant blue color in the stone was to ground up and used to depict the Virgin Mary's blue robe, worth it's weight in gold. High quality lapis lazuli mostly has been found to be mined in Afghanistan and or Russia since ancient times. The subject ram is rounded of body with incised detailing on hooves and horns, beautifully carved with great charm, detail and liveliness. Wooden base has pine, bamboo and ruyi scattered about the reticulated pillow-like rocks. Age: circa 1920s. Size: 5.25”H 4.75”H without base, 5”L x 4.5”D base: .5”H